How to Clear Your Clutter (And Earn a Little Money On The Side)

Does your house look like you're losing a game of Jumanji?  Are you tripping over random items and have little to no space in your storage drawers? Have the kids' toys, clothes and other belongings taken over the house?  Welcome to the club!  You're certainly not alone.

Thankfully, there are plenty of smart and useful ways to clear the clutter in your home, and you can even make a few bucks while you're at it.  Let's take a look.

How to Clear Your Clutter (And Earn a Little Money On The Side)

Identifying The Clutter

The first thing to do is to actually identify the clutter that you have in your home. While the majority of your clutter is probably not worth a whole lot, there are some items in which you should be mindful about discarding. We’re going to list a few of the most common reasons why you'll want to be careful:

• One woman's trash is another woman's treasure - At least that's what I told my ex's girlfriend.  Ayy-oooo!  Anyway, most of us have items gathering dust in our attics, basements and storage lockers that we think one day we'll use, but never do. Or we think it's valuable so we hang on to it, even though it has no sentimental value or use to us at all.  Before discarding something that could be potentially worth money (such as artwork, stamp collections, coins and books), you'll want to have it appraised or assessed.

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• Not everything that's broken or damaged is trash - There’s always going to be certain items that are completely useless and have no real value (hellloooo Happy Meal toys). But items like retro electronics can still be valuable, even if they’re broken or damaged. Same holds true for antique watches, clocks, pottery and jewelry.  ​Much like the treasures mentioned above, you'll want to have these items appraised before discarding.

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• Old clothes - Most of us have wardrobes full of clothes that we never wear.  Maybe they don't fit anymore, or they've become outdated.  Whatever the case, it's time to ditch the duds.  Make four piles and start sorting:  Keep, Trash, Donate & Sell. ​

Once you’ve identified your clutter, you can start thinking about what you'll do with it. 

Choose To Donate

There are three main options when it comes to eliminating your clutter: donating, selling and trashing.  Donating won't make you any money, but it is a tax write-off.  It's also a great way to reuse and recycle while doing something good for others.

Start the decluttering process by separating your stuff.  Create four piles:  Keep, Donate, Trash and Sell.  Your donate pile should be filled with clothes and other reusable items that are in decent shape but probably aren't worth reselling. This could also include shoes that are little too worn and older electronics that have lost their appeal. Other household items including knick knacks, kitchenwares, books, tapes and CDs can also be donated.  Even furniture can be donated to charity: the Salvation Army and the United War Veterans pick up for free. 

Choose To Sell

If you prefer to sell your stuff, be sure your items are in good condition before you advertise them. Make sure clothing is washed.  Give furniture a good dusting and run a rag dampened with a mild cleanser along other household goods.  Test to confirm that electronic items or items with moving parts are in good working condition.

You’ll also need to pick the right place to sell your stuff, so here are a few ideas for you to consider:

• Sell online - A site like BuybackExpress is great for selling items like electronic goods, textbooks, music, movies and video games.   Selling is easy:   simply enter the ISBN or UPC number of the book, CD or movie to get a price.  You'll receive a quote immediately.  If you choose to accept it, you'll be asked to create an account, enter details for receiving payment (i.e., Paypal ID), and then you'll be asked to print a pre-paid shipping label.  Drop your package at the post office and receive your payment the same day your package is received by Buyback.  It's really that easy!  

Other sites we love are Poshmark (for clothing, shoes, bags and accessories); Ebay, the OG auction site for buying and selling; Etsy, for handmade and vintage items and Glambot for new and gently used makeup and skincare.
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• Sell to consignment shops or pawn shops - If you prefer brick and mortar businesses, consignment shops are great option for selling higher-end merchandise, like designer clothes, bags and shoes.  Selling through a consignment shop won't get you paid straight away, though:  You get paid when they sell your items, and you get a percentage of the sale (typically a 60% - 40% split, with the 40% going to you).  Pawn shops, on the other hand, are good for selling larger electronics, power tools, sports equipment and jewelry.  If you like and accept their offer, you'll get paid upfront.   

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• Sell to antique dealers - If you have antique or vintage items you're willing to part with, source local antique dealers.  Make sure you have a good idea of the item's value, because dealers aren't going to do the legwork for you.  Once you have an idea of what your item's worth, you can expect to receive about 25% - 50% of the value.  

Regardless of the option or options you choose, be sure to do a little online research first.  Check reviews and browse websites before heading out to do business.

Private Ways To Sell Your Stuff

Another option is to sell your goods to privately through sites like Craigslist, Kajiji and Facebook Marketplace.  Make sure you take plenty of pictures of your items in good lighting, and be as descriptive as you can. When it comes to proving authenticity for one of a kind or designer pieces you might be selling, try to have the certificate of authenticity, proof of purchase or original receipt.

While plenty of folks have luck selling this way, we have to warn you:  scams run rampant on these sites.  Be wary of buyers who can't or won't meet you in person, or who have an "agent" working on their behalf; if someone is willing to pay you more than you're asking, you can bet it's a scam; if the person you're dealing with doesn't live in the immediate area and if the words "Western Union" or "Money Gram" come into the conversation--pass.  These are NOT legit buyers, and you should avoid them entirely.

Final Words

As you can see, clearing out your clutter is a fantastic way to create more space at home while making money on the side!  For even more info on giving your home a good decluttering, check out this post from Elegant Simplicity called "Guiding You To A Clutter-Free Home in 2020".   It's an amazing, in-depth resource for helping you create a clutter-free home.